Gerd Steinkogler, 65

“I’m just glad I’m still alive”

Gerd Steinkogler (front) last played for the Austrian national team against Holland in 1984.(Bild: Votava / brandstaetter images / picturedesk.com)

Gerhard "Gerd" Steinkogler celebrates his 65th birthday on Sunday. The former cult striker for Vienna's Austria used to collect titles non-stop, battled Diego Armando Maradona in the European Cup - now with a donor kidney and after a stroke and heart surgery with his health.

His pacemaker was only recently replaced. "Sometimes it gets better, sometimes worse," is how Gerhard "Gerd" Steinkogler sums up his state of health. A donor kidney was found in 2011, and he has also had a stroke and heart surgery. "Injections here, injections there, that used to be the norm. I'm glad I'm still alive, I can go for walks, I watch Austria from time to time."